Arts Devo

Here’s to the weird Arts DEVO hates missing out on the fun. Last week, I was unable to attend two of the most anticipated events on my calendar for 2018: Terry Riley at the New Music Symposium (Feb. 28-March 1) and the Keep Chico Weird Art Show reception at the 1078 Gallery on Saturday (March 2).

I haven’t heard anything about Riley’s Saturday talk/gig yet, but reports on the Chico State student/faculty performance of his “In C” on Friday have ranged from “really neat!” to “inspiring.” And the reception for the Chico News & Review’s KCW Art Show looks to have been off the hook, with wild art, wild costumes, live music and a super-wild burlesque act by the Psychochix. The Best of Show unicorn went to Wayne Wade and his not-that-weird-but-still-super-rad “Tacos de Chico” art book—a stylized photo essay on the master purveyors of what might be our city’s signature food. Congrats!

A huge thank you goes out to Erin Wade and Mathew Houghton and the rest of the folks at the 1078 Gallery for going above and beyond to hold down the weird fort while I was away. (By the way, I had the time of my life partying with Mrs. DEVO’s side of the family for four days at my nephew’s wedding in Redondo Beach, so I’m really not that sad.)

Bustin’ out For her master’s project, Chico State art student and 7th Street Centre for the Arts instructor Morea Martin has paired artists from the greater Chico community with local artists with disabilities to create collaborative pieces. The aim was to bring “people of all abilities together in and inclusive environment,” and the works born of the project will be on display this Friday (March 8), 6-8 p.m., at the Opening Doors, Breaking Barriers exhibit at Idea Fab Labs.

Coming Home The Paradise Performing Arts Center continues its resurgence in the aftermath of the Camp Fire. This Sunday (March 10), at 7:30 p.m., the Paradise Symphony Orchestra—60 musicians and 85 choir members—will return home for its first performance in town since the fire. In addition to Beethoven’s Ode to Joy and “Festival Overture” from his 9th Symphony, the PSO will premiere “The March of the First Responders,” a composition by conductor Lloyd Roby. Tickets available at paradisesymphony.org or by calling 513-1507.

At the end of the month, Ed Asner is coming! (Depending on your age, you remember the veteran television/movie actor from The Mary Tyler Moore Show or as Santa in Elf.) On March 30, the folks at Theatre on the Ridge are bringing Asner’s touring play God Help Us!—a modern-day left vs. right political comedy with Asner playing God—to the PPAC. Local theater vets Jerry Miller and Teresa Hurley-Miller will co-star alongside Asner for a one-time benefit performance. Tickets available at totr.org.